Grilled Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs

The minute the weather turns warm in Kansas City, my whole family starts asking when we are going to fire up the grill. These honey garlic chicken thighs are usually my answer. They are sticky and sweet with just enough garlic to keep things interesting, and the kids actually eat them without negotiation, which is basically a miracle.

I am a thigh person through and through. They stay juicy, they are forgiving if you get distracted by a sprinkler situation in the backyard, and they soak up marinade like a dream. White meat lovers, I see you, but give these a try and you might switch teams.

The marinade does all the work

Honey, soy sauce, a generous amount of garlic, a little vinegar for brightness, and smoked paprika for that cozy depth. That is it. You can throw it together in the morning, let the chicken sit all day, and dinner basically makes itself when everyone is finally home and starving.

A good instant read meat thermometer takes all the guesswork out of grilling chicken, and a sturdy pair of grill tongs means you can flip without losing any of that gorgeous glaze.

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Tips for that perfect char

Because there is honey in the marinade, these can go from beautifully caramelized to burnt if you are not paying attention. Keep your grill at a steady medium, not blazing high, and watch for flare-ups. If you want extra sauce, set aside a little marinade before it touches the raw chicken and brush it on at the very end.

I love serving these with grilled corn and a simple slaw for the full backyard cookout vibe. Leftovers are amazing chopped over a salad the next day.

Grilled Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs

Juicy chicken thighs marinated in honey, garlic, and soy, then grilled until sticky and charred at the edges.

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 25 minutes mins

Servings: 6 servings

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients

  

• 8 bone-in skin-on chicken thighs
• 1/3 cup honey
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 5 cloves garlic minced
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1/2 tsp black pepper

Method

 

1. Whisk together the honey, soy sauce, garlic, olive oil, vinegar, paprika, and pepper in a bowl.
2. Add the chicken thighs and turn to coat. Marinate for at least 30 minutes or up to overnight.
3. Preheat the grill to medium heat and oil the grates.
4. Grill the thighs skin side down for 6 to 7 minutes, then flip and grill another 6 to 8 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 175 degrees F.
5. Rest for 5 minutes before serving so the juices settle.

Notes

Plus at least 30 minutes for marinating. Reserve some marinade before adding the chicken if you want extra sauce to brush on at the end.

Summer on a plate

These thighs taste like the best parts of summer to me, the lazy evenings and the kids running around with sticky fingers. I make them all season long and I have a feeling they are about to become a regular at your house too.

Tools for This Recipe

• HOTEC Silicone Basting Brushes: Heat safe silicone brushes for painting that reserved honey garlic marinade on at the very end.
• Microplane Classic Zester: Grates garlic cloves straight into the marinade in seconds, no mincing required.

So glad you are here.
xo, Pam